Post-hole auger.



B, G., W. P. & T. WATKINS.

POST HOLE AUGER.

APPLICATION mm JAN. 21. I9I5.

Patented June 8,

WITNESSES:

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A TTORIVEVS HE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOIO-LITHGL, WASHINOTUN. D. C

Nrrnn STATES PATENT onrrcn.

BENJAMIN G. WATKINS, OF NEI-IAWKA, NEBRASKA, AND WALTER PHILIP WATKINS AND TAYLOR WATKINS, OF ELIZABETHTOWN, KENTUCKY.

POST-HOLE AUGER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 27, 1915. Serial No. 4,629.

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that we, BENJAMIN G. WAT- KINs, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Nehawka, in the county of Cass and State of Nebraska, and WALTER I. WA'I- KINS and TAYLOR WATKINS, citizens of the United States, and residents of Elizabethtown, in the county of Hardin and State of Kentucky, have made an Improvement in Post-Hole Augers, of which the following is a specification. I

We have obtained Letters Patent, No. 1,110,517, for an earth or post-hole auger having a single bit or cutter, and No. 1,114,206 for an auger having. three bits or cutters. I i

Our present invention is an auger having two bits or cutters and a closed bottom intervening the two bits, which construction w particularly adapts the auger for rapid and successful work in dry, and light or sandy soils.

The details of construction and operation are as hereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side view of our improved auger, it being shown inserted in a hole in the earth and in working position. Fig. 2 is a view of the opposite side of the auger. Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. A is another cross section on the line 4.1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a bottom end view.

The body 1 of our auger is practically semi-cyclindrical, .but is more than 180 degrees in cross section. One side of the body is extended somewhat beyond the'adjacent vertical portion, as shown in Figs. 1 and2, and its edge is convex and sharpened to produce a cutter 2. The incurved V-shaped point 3 of this cutter extends across and beyond the center of the bottom 4 of the auger and forms part of the closure of said bottom, which constitutes the portion that supports and lifts the soil cut by the auger. The portion of the auger body 1 which is opposite the cutter 2 constitutes a second cutter, which is prong-like in shape and whose incurved angular point meets, or closely approximates, the apex 3 of the larger bit or cutter 2. See especially Fig.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for Gr. Watkins:

5. The bit or cutter 5 is separated from the body of the auger by a narrow slot 7, and the edge of the cutter adjacent said slot is beveled or sharpened to produce the cutter proper. Between said slot 7 and the edge of bit or cutter 2, the convex bottom of the anger is entirely closed and preferably integral. Such portion thus constitutes a broad, smooth shelf or support for the earth. taken up by the twocutters as the auger is rotated. This construction has been found '-metal than augers whose bottoms are open or slotted.

The auger proper is provided with the usual form of handle for operating it.

What we claim is 1. A post-hole auger comprising a body of more than half a cylinder, having one edge extendedand convexed to 'form the main cutter, and its opposite side provided with a slot and having a smaller cutter whose beveled edge forms the outer side of the said slot, the bottom portion intervening 'the' slot and main cutter being solid or en.-

tire and constituting a broad, smooth, earthsupporting and lifting surface, as described.

2. A post-hole auger comprising a body of more than half a cylinder having one edge .constructed as a cutter and its opposite side provided with a slot and a smaller cutter,

both cutters having angular points which are approximate, the point of the main cutter being extended across the center of the closed bottom, as described.

BENJAMIN G. WATKINS. WVALTER PHILIP WATKINS. TAYLOR WATKINS.

Witnesses to the signature of CHAs. L. GRAVES, ALVA L. SIKES.

Benjamin -Witnesses to signatures of Walter P. Watkins and Taylor Watkins.

H. L. JAMES, JOHN H. GoRANrLo. 

